Liz Thomas Hikinghttp://www.eathomas.com
Long Distance Adventure HikingWed, 31 Jan 2018 14:54:15 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4How to hike your biggest mile day yethttp://www.eathomas.com/2018/01/31/new-years-goal-biggest-mile-day-yet/
Wed, 31 Jan 2018 14:40:45 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=28756However you define “big miles,” here are tips to do your first 10, 20, 30 or 50-mile day hike. A few weeks ago, I posted a story on Instagram about re-hiking Cactus to the Clouds, a dayhike called “one of America’s hardest and deadliest” by Backpacker Magazine. It got me to thinking about the first […]

However you define “big miles,” here are tips to do your first 10, 20, 30 or 50-mile day hike.

A few weeks ago, I posted a story on Instagram about re-hiking Cactus to the Clouds, a dayhike called “one of America’s hardest and deadliest” by Backpacker Magazine.

It got me to thinking about the first time I hiked that 21-mile, 10500’ gain trail and the months of prep I put into it. I diligently set alarms and climbed mountains in the dark before work. I researched and hiked increasingly difficult trails, setting aside weekend after weekend for nothing but training.

Since then, I’ve upped my definition for “big mile day” to ~50 milers like the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike. But the training and thought I put into prepping for a big mile trip is the same.

Training:

Maintain a base fitness level:

The best way to prepare for a big mile hike is to maintain a base fitness level for big mile hikes. My friend and hiking mentor, guidebook author David Harris, told me early on in my hiking career that doing one 5,000 foot gain hike every month is all the body needs to retain muscle memory and strength to do that same feat again. I’m not sure where he got that number, but presumably the same holds for any big elevation, whether it’s 2,000 feet of gain or 10,000.

Build a hiking calendar

Get a guidebook to your area (I highly recommend the paper version) and a calendar. Write down the hikes you want to do in ascending order of difficulty with the BIG HIKE as your goal (keeping in mind some hikes aren’t do-able in all seasons).

All the hikes on this list don’t have to be difficult—just places you know you want to visit. Start with the easiest hike on your list—the one that you think you can do right now—and reserve a date on your calendar to do it. Write in the next hardest hike for a week or two later. By committing dates and dedicating them to specific hikes, you’re less likely to let life get in the way of your hiking training. You also are more likely to invite friends to come along on that hike, which will keep you accountable. You’ll find that although your hikes will get harder and harder, your body will adjust. Note: it’s easy to say you want to do every hike in your guidebook, but try to keep your list manageable to what you can do in the season.

Ramp it up

About two weeks before my big goal hike, I’ll walk what I call a Baby Big Mile Day. It’s another trail that’s approximately 75% as difficult as my Big Mile Goal hike. For example, to practice for my first Cactus to the Clouds (21 miles with 10500’ gain), my Baby Big Mile Day was Bear Canyon on Mt Baldy (16 miles, 6000’ of gain). To train for Bear Canyon on Mt. Baldy, my Baby Big Mile Day was Mt. Baldy via Manker Flats (14 miles, 3700’ of gain). These are examples from when I was first getting into increasing my mileage, but I’ve used similar formulas for hiking in Colorado, too.

The path to the goal is straight ahead

Figure out the gear

I think something folks don’t talk a lot about when it comes to big mile days is how to minimize the amount of mental and physical energy expended on anything but moving forward. That means the gear that you wear and carry should advance you—not hinder your performance. If you find yourself spending a lot of your hiking time worrying about how a shoe is rubbing or how you are cold or futzing with toggles and buckles, that’s energy you could be spending on pushing forward. Choose gear that makes you feel comfortable while hiking.

Use shorter practice hikes to make sure clothing and gear you have fits you right and that you’re using it in the right circumstances. Gear and clothing, especially shoes, should feel comfortable and shouldn’t rub or chafe.

Test and experiment with new gear on practice hikes. For example, practice hike is where I first learned that I worry and hurt less from sunburn when I wear the lightweight wide-brimmed Sunday Afternoons Ultralight vs. my old beloved Headsweats visor. When I got to Cactus to the Clouds, sunburn was one less thing I worried about.

Check out gear lists from other people who have done the big hike you want to do. Try to find gearlists from people who hiked at the same time of year you plan to attempt your big route. For example, I wrote my Rim to Rim to Rim gear list for the Grand Canyon for hiking in April or May, but someone attempting that hike earlier in the year would want to include microspikes to deal with ice and someone heading later in the year would want more water.

Food and Nutrition

Hiking big mile days requires big nutrition and big hydration. Plan to eat and drink more than you would for a usual dayhike—and carry and pack your pack accordingly. On one of my first big hikes, I made the mistake of carrying too little food–some crackers and dried cranberries for a 16 mile hike. I often scheme in the back of my head that if I don’t carry enough food on a hike, maybe I’ll lose some weight. But this is a HORRIBLE idea for anyone who wants to not feel like garbage on their hike. To succeed on a big mile hike, bring more than you think you need.

The food I brought with me on Rim to Rim to Rim in a day. I didn’t end up eating everything here, so some of this was dead weight.

Pack things that you will actually eat…

Yeah, those sprouted kale seed chips might be ok at home but will look like cardboard on trail. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy on trail. It just means you need to be more creative understanding your palate. Recently, I’ve come to carrying roasted sweet potatoes and pickled eggplant norimaki.

But keep in mind that appetites change when you are exerting yourself. I never eat boiled potatoes on or off trail, but I learned from a thru-hiker-turned-ultramarathoner friend that at maximum exertion, many people find salt-covered-spuds palatable. I took some along on a Baby Big hike to train before Rim to Rim to Rim. At full-exertion, the sight of my bars was puke-worthy and my chocolate had melted. But…the potatoes were heavenly. For more info on this, check out my Rim to Rim to Rim nutrition post.

Adjust your idea of what it means to hike

For most folks, a dayhike is something you do after brunch but before beer with friends.

With a big mile day hike, the timeline is different.

You should expect to spend all day walking with fewer, shorter breaks.

This may be the most important take-away and the hardest transition to take on, but slow and steady wins the race–or gets to the top of the mountain.

Making a big mile day isn’t about how fast or strong you are. It’s about staying dedicated to your goal.

TL;DR

Working towards a big hiking goal requires dedication, planning, and a little luck. By prioritizing a hiking schedule, you’ll get your food and gear likes-and-dislikes down and your body will get accustomed to hiking bigger and bigger days.

]]>GR20: Initial thoughts from a hike across Europe’s so-called “toughest trail”http://www.eathomas.com/2017/07/04/gr20initialthoughts/
http://www.eathomas.com/2017/07/04/gr20initialthoughts/#respondTue, 04 Jul 2017 04:26:56 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=28731The irony of my trip to Corsica is that for for weeks, I had been looking forward to hiking in Europe because I was getting tired of training in the hot, dry, scrubby, California ecosystem near my home. As soon as our plane landed, the view of the mountains looked laughably exactly the same as […]

The irony of my trip to Corsica is that for for weeks, I had been looking forward to hiking in Europe because I was getting tired of training in the hot, dry, scrubby, California ecosystem near my home. As soon as our plane landed, the view of the mountains looked laughably exactly the same as the view of the mountains from my little town. Turns out when people say California has a Mediterranean ecosystem, they aren’t lying.

The GR20 may look like California in the lowlands on the first and last day, but then it changes.

Our biggest mistake (and the two of three other Americans we met on the entire island said they made the same mistake) was bringing too much food from the U.S. and from the grocery store before we started. We could easily and surprisingly inexpensively get food every 6 hours or so from the huts. At first, I was dead-set against spending extra money for food (and beer). It was too extravagant, especially for a short hike. But as the walk got harder and harder and started eating away at me, I learned that hiking in Europe is as much about the walk as it is about getting used to the customs. That, and a hiker never turns away an opportunity for food.

We never paid for the full meal (30 euros for pasta and lentils?!) but the snacks like omelettes tasted better than what you could get at a restaurant in the States (well, that’s what hiker hunger said anyway). We also liked getting juice, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and beer from all the huts. Each hut was stocked with “hiking food” as well. We liked packing out with cheese, bread, and salami, which were all pretty reasonably priced. They also had some more expensive but totally worth it regional specialties like Canistrelli cookies and chestnut spreads. They were definitely gourmet fancier items but it felt cool to be eating what the region is famous for while we were hiking (foodies can geek out knowing that the stuff sold at these humble, ramshackle shelters held AOC and AOP designations). Other stuff that was more typical hiker food was more expensive (instant mashed potatoes and canned stuff). Btw, the instant mashed potatoes were unsalted, unflavored, and needed about a pound of cheese added in to make them better.

Aubuerge U Vallone on the GR20 was picturesque place to grab a slice of cake and a beer

We passed a fair amount of bergeries, which are little farmer’s homesteads, which also sell snacks and sometimes let you camp nearby for a fee. We had some of the most amazing cheese ever from these (and one cheese that was kinda a dud). It was cool to meet the cheesemakers, the farmers, the shepherds, the cowboys–just living life in the hills, daydrinking, and hanging out. What a pleasant life to lead!

The GR20, by US standards, was super crowded in the morning around 8 for some reason (maybe when the huts–which operates like a hostel– stops serving breakfast). When we left at 6, we didn’t see a lot of other hikers, and then BAM, it got crowded with folks traveling in groups, as if solo-hiking is a scary thing.

Climbing and descents on rock can be steep on the GR20

The best, best thing ever though was that people don’t really seem to hike in the afternoon on the GR20. We rarely saw people after 3 pm (and since we were there for solstice, it wouldn’t get dark until 9:30 or so). That meant we had the trail to ourselves for 5 hours! It was such a blessing on an otherwise crowded trail.

Europeans seemed really into doing their laundry each evening at the huts. There are clotheslines at each hut just packed with drying synthetic compression shorts. There were a fair share of ultra-runner types who would run from hut to hut with a waist pack and then hang out the rest of the day doing their laundry (??). Every hiut also had solar showers (free, usually). We got in too late to laundry and weren’t super stoked on the cold showers at night, so definitely felt like grubby Americans. Several of the refuges near roads did have hot showers, so I got in 3 showers on the trip (including one at a hotel!). Not bad for a thru-hike of that size!

Despite being a low snow year, there were still patches in early-mid June.

I hadn’t been counting on the trail being hot and sunny (I guess I think Europe, I think Scotland cold), but it was California-style sun exposure when not shaded by the steepness of the mountains and angle of the sun. Water was only once an issue (we climbed a side peak and didn’t bring water and then when we got back to our packs and were displeased with what was left.) I was fine, but Mr. G was not pleased until I found some snowmelt about 15 min later.

Chains on the GR20 help hikers navigate steep terrain or wet/icy slab

In general, trail quality (by US standards) was all over the place. We really are lucky ducks having trails as nicely graded and well-defined as we have here. There was a lot of scrambling on slabby rock and well-featured small faces (as opposed to boulders, but there were a few of those, too). The chains that helped you ascend weren’t always necessary and weren’t always in the most helpful spots, but were still a nice touch. The trail is generally well blazed, but sometimes braids into many different paths between the blazes. The result was, for a marked, blazed trail, there was more route-finding than you would expect. It was generally pretty obvious, but I could tell that Mr. G, who hasn’t had the same experience looking for blazes and trail markers as I have, struggled and would get frustrated when he was in the lead.

Loose scree made for slow moving on the GR20

Much of what was on dirt felt like loose, steep scree best suited for dirt mountaineering (in fact, the ultra-runner dudes were dirt-boot-skiing down it, poles and all). Mr. G in particular hated these descents. A wee bit of trail was PCT-esque beautiful trail—even if it was way, way, steeper than the PCT. Even though the GR20 was definitely constructed with rockwork and at times switchbacks, in many ways, it felt as if a cross-country route through the Sierras was blazed and 30,000 people hiked it a year (enough to get very distinct paths): a mix of scrambling and some nice trails. Plus, steep scree slopes.

Tents for rent outside the Petra Piana refuge on the GR20

Ultimately, the huts were the biggest difference between the American hiking and the GR20. We liked the food at the huts, but I resented that it was illegal to camp anywhere but near the huts (or the bergeries—which are owned by the farmers). A younger, poorer version of myself would’ve hated having to pay to camp each night, but now that I’m better off, I don’t feel bad about the money going back to the park system since we never paid an entrance fee or permit fee.

We ran into surprisingly few people during our afternoon descent of Monte Cinto, Corsica’s highest peak. Where did they all go?

But I didn’t grumble about the crowds at the huts. In my mind, the GR20’s hut systems and regulations have traded convenience and the security of never having to camp alone for the freedom and privacy of camping in the wild. My understanding is that the GR20’s huts are considered primitive and far between by European standards—this was really roughing it for many of the hikers there. But my American standards, it felt confined, making the world seem much smaller and more populated than it may have been. I get that the huts consolidate use on a highly trafficked trail. But I lament the idea that open space should be so limited. I worry that America, too, may turn to such systems, too.

As we hiked late into the day, it was hard to find a campsite near the huts (though because our backpacking tent was so much smaller than most other people who brought their own tents, we found we could sneak into some primo spots that others would’ve overlooked).

If I were to do it all again, I’d check the conditions and ask people headed in the other direction more about what they had experienced.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2017/07/04/gr20initialthoughts/feed/0Why adrenaline junkies get bored hikinghttp://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/15/adrenaline-junkies-get-bored-hiking/
http://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/15/adrenaline-junkies-get-bored-hiking/#commentsMon, 15 May 2017 16:35:27 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4457 I hear complaints all the time from climbers, runners, trail runners, mountaineers, mountain bikers about hiking: It’s slow. It’s repetitive. It’s boring. In a world of FKTs, GoPros, and Snapchat, the simple beauty of hiking can be lost. Robert Pirsig, author of a book of adventures and values […]

“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end but a unique event in itself….To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountains which sustain life, not the top.”

I think Pirsig sums up well what makes hikers odd ducks in the outdoor world. In general, we aren’t in it for speed or adrenaline. Sure—there are adrenaline filled moments when a grizzly bear is around the bend or the lightning storm comes in. And don’t get me wrong—we love to tell others those stories and relish in the highs and lows and the lessons that come from them.

But I think that’s one thing that makes hikers different than other outdoor folks. When each step becomes a thing to celebrate in itself, that’s when the beauty of hiking really shines through.

My high adrenaline days over. Just kidding. Found this abandoned snowmobile on the CDT with Ned (not pictured, who took the photo).

Many of my thru-hiking friends who have hiked the PCT and CDT dread finishing their Triple Crown on the Appalachian Trail. Without vistas and with smaller mountains, they fear that there won’t be anything to appreciate out there.

While I love the AT more than many western long distance hikers, for me, the beauty is not at the macro-scale, but at the micro-scale. It’s so steep that every step upwards is a mini-victory. Each plant, lichen, moss, rock, leaf, caterpillar, flower, and footstep becomes something to relish. Without the big views to distract, my senses become more attuned to that which is in front of me.

There is simple peace to be had in sitting in nature. Walking slowly in nature. Letting nature dictate you and not the other way around. Photo by Ned.

On a long distance hike, thinking ahead to Canada when you’re standing at the Mexican border is way too overwhelming. It makes me hurl. Well, at least get some major stomach butterflies. So on a thru-hike, unlike climbing a peak, there’s peace to be had by not thinking too much farther ahead. By living in the present.

Hiking forces us into a space where there aren’t distractions. It’s why we take long distance trips (be it by foot or motorcycle). It’s why so many leave their daily life for this pilgrimage. Because we know that there are values to be learned only through hardship and removal of distractions.

Former hiking partners (emphasis on the former) have complained that my hiking speed is inconsistent. Current hiking partners may corroborate on that one. But Pirsig’s quote helps me understand why: if my pace is somewhere between restlessness and exhaustion, it is sustainable and it is the pace the mountain gives me. I don’t try to fight the mountain by keeping a consistent pace over different terrain or different energy levels. I flow with it. It’s the pace I need to process myself. And if that angers some hiking partners, too bad for them.

Of course, philosophizing about pace and relationships with mountains is easy enough to do at a computer with a hot cup of tea by my side. But not every moment of hiking is an artful walk of peaceful meditation and mindfulness for me. Especially, if I’m 10 miles from town and there’s a burger and beer with my name on it.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/15/adrenaline-junkies-get-bored-hiking/feed/1Tips to keeping feet happy while snow hikinghttp://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/03/tips-to-keeping-feet-happy-in-the-snow/
http://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/03/tips-to-keeping-feet-happy-in-the-snow/#commentsWed, 03 May 2017 01:04:46 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4439It’s no secret this is going to be a big snow year on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, too. It got me thinking about how I learned the hard way how to keep my feet warm in snowy “summer” hiking conditions. Distance hikers are going to be walking for hundreds of […]

]]>It’s no secret this is going to be a big snow year on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, too. It got me thinking about how I learned the hard way how to keep my feet warm in snowy “summer” hiking conditions.

Distance hikers are going to be walking for hundreds of miles in snow—postholing up to their waist in slushy stuff in the afternoon, fording a million little creeks of snowmelt, and otherwise letting their feet be in a state of perpetual Prune City. Worst still, moist feet can lead to unpleasant chafing, skin peeling off, trench foot, and perhaps even a little toenail loss (I know from experience and am sparing you the photos).

Twinkle and Guthrie and I posthole our way in the Flathead Mountains of Colorado in early June

But nothing is more unfun and likely, (in my opinion) than the numb foot. The foot that is so cold and wet that each step—despite having lost some sensation—actually is painful. There’s a lot of suck after all day postholing (aka, sinking into your ankles, knees, or waist in soft snow–see photo above). And while you can’t fight the low-mileage, defeatist attempt at Constant Forward Progress, and associated exhaustion–you can make your feet happier.

Hiking on a glacier in Olympic National Park. Photo by Jake Morrison.

Thru-hikers– with our obsession with keeping things light and our refusal to carry the winter gear that one would bring for, say, a winter backcountry hut ski trip– are asking for some discomfort in the snow. My friend Mags once told me that often, winter backpacking is more pleasant than early spring or late fall backpacking because at least in those conditions, you’re prepared and ready to carry the heavy duty stuff. Yet, we ultralight hikers continue to refuse using real winter gear for shoulder season hiking. And I personally will continue to use the lightest system that will keep my feet happy.

Below is my evolution on footwear choices and how my feet have gone from uncomfortable on snowy thru-hikes to shockingly happy, even in snow-slogging conditions.

A rare photo of me in the Sierra in mid July during the epic snow year of 2006.

Before I became a thru-hiker, I dayhiked extensively in the Sierra, living just outside Lee Vining (Tuolumne Meadows part of Yosemite National Park) including during the record breaking snow years of 2005 and 2006. If my feet got wet in mesh trail runners as I hiked for a day in snow, that was fine because I came home to a warm fire and new socks and shoes.

You can see part of a plastic grocery bag sticking out of my sock on my right foot. On Forester Pass on the PCT in 2009.

When I became a thru-hiker, there was no more coming home to new socks and shoes. I knew my feet would get cold and no amount of layering socks would fix it. I needed a Vapor Barrier system to keep my feet warm—but as an ultralight backpacker, it needed to be light. I used old plastic grocery bags, which disintegrated by the first day (see them peeking out in the photo above). I hiked almost a week using increasingly holey bags. Each step, each ford– everything was painful and horrible. Part of that had to do with my experience and discomfort mentally with the Sierras on the PCT. But I can’t help but wonder if my time in the snow would’ve been a lot happier with a better footwear system.

Underneath that smile is a lot of pain. Continental Divide Trail 2010

By the time I hiked the Continental Divide Trail, I was deadset on fixing my snow-time footwear mistakes. I purchased some cottage-industry-made waterproof socks, which would create a durable, relatively lightweight Vapor Barrier on the inside of my regular mesh trail running shoe. I experimented wearing my usual thru-hiking thin Darn Tough running socks on the inside of my waterproof sock. I experimented wearing them on the outside (this was bad as the Vapor Barrier created chaffing when worn right against the skin). Then, I tried wearing socks in- and outside-of- the Vapor Barrier sock. This worked the best—but, my shoes were too small to sustain all this new sockage (three pairs for those counting). It was a fail that left me with blackened toenails and significant chafing on the top of my foot. Not to mention that my mesh trail running shoes came out of the snow as shredded as my feet.

Despite walking through difficult snowy terrain all day everyday, my feet were shockingly happy on my 2 weeks in May/June through the San Juans on the CDT.

Last year, I re-hiked the section of the CDT in the high remote mountains of the Southern San Juans and San Juans. With almost a decade of additional thru-hiking knowledge behind me PLUS major advancements in footwear technology, I was ready to test my feet and myself in weeks of snow. First, I wore my usual Darn Tough running sock. Then I covered it in a Seal Skinz waterproof sock, then I wore the Altra Lone Peak Neoshell—a kind of waterproof version of the trail runner that I always wear (if you want to know more about the Neoshell, I wrote a long-term review here Gear Review: Lone Peak Neoshell). To top it all off, I added an lightweight insulated footbed, which may have done nothing, but seemed like minimal addition for potential of more warmth.

By the time I emerged from feet of snow, I felt like I had found the Holy Grail.

This was the footwear combo that was actually going to keep my feet warm and comfortable!

Gear doesn’t always make or break the trip (or segment of a trip). But sometimes it does. The less optimal the conditions, the more good gear will help you. The nicer the conditions, the more you can get away carrying bad gear.

Here’s why I think it works

Wearing my usual hiking sock as the initial layer prevents chaffing from the moist waterproof sock directly against the skin. The waterproof sock adds additional warmth with a Vapor Barrier system. The Neoshell shoe adds the most major piece of warmth by creating an extra Vapor Barrier around your feet—a double whammy of warmth. Since I usually wear Altras in the mesh version as my normal hiking shoe, I knew that it would fit and work with my foot, so I didn’t run into any of the weird sizing or gait issues associated with changing footwear for snow conditions. As any thru-hiker can tell you, it takes forever to find a shoe model and brand that works for your body (some hikers walk the whole Triple Crown before finding “the shoe”). If your normal hiking shoe comes in waterproof, stick with that brand.

The Neoshell low top versions without a waterproof sock work fine in warmer snowy conditions or dayhikes.

Another advantage of the sock+waterproof sock+Neoshell trail runner system is that it was a relatively dry system for a Vapor Barrier. I notoriously hate putting on wet socks and my hiking partner Naomi calls me the “Sock Lady” because I bring a new pair to wear each day (give or take a few days). So each day, my base sock would be new (and dry). While the wet Vapor Barrier socks would’ve been a pain to put on in the morning, the base sock was a protective layer against those nasty wet socks. The Neoshell shoes have a mesh base so dry out surprisingly quickly and felt surprisingly dry each morning (as long as I remembered to keep them in a plastic bag in my bivy at night to prevent them from freezing solid).

11 hikers walked–er, postholed–80 miles through the snow with different footwear situations. I personally think I was the happiest, having finally learned how to keep my feet warm.

Last May, I rolled through the southern San Juans with a crew of 11 hikers. Others in the group tried out different systems for keeping their feet warm: waterproof sock+trail runners, double-thick wool socks+trail runners, normal sock+waterproof shoes. Many got cold feet. With the double protection of the two Vapor Barrier System, my feet were warm enough I could concentrate on navigation and frankly, the beauty of the mountains I got to see totally covered in snow. The system was elegant, lightweight but surprisingly durable, didn’t require a lot of extra stuff, and dried out quickly (well the Neoshell shoes dry in 20 minutes in full sun, sans the stock footbed. The after-market insulated footbed seemed to dry quickly, though.).

Improving the System

On a snowshoe trip in February, I took out the new-as-of-this year Lone Peak Neoshell Mids (aka the Hightop Altras on a snowshoeing hut trip with some hikertrash. While I’m not usually a mid kinda girl, they seemed an improvement over the lowtop Neoshells for snowshoeing and keeping your ankle your warm when postholing. I also think the firmer shoe helps keep the snowshoe attached better. I hate the idea of doing part of a thru-hike in a mid, but am seriously considering doing it this year myself if the snow conditions call for it. They’re going in my bounce bucket for easy retrieval.

As a thru-hiker, I’m quick to tell new hikers that waterproof shoes aren’t for all conditions. But when it gets cold and snowy, dry normal socks+waterproof socks and waterproof shoes (with appropriate sizing) were the key for me to solving a painful-numb-foot problem that had been plaguing me for years. I should’ve read the other stuff on the Internet about this before busting out into days of snow, but I’m stubborn and insisted on figuring this out myself. I’m glad I finally discovered the perfect combo and I hope that by reading this maybe it can spare others from the discomfort I’ve experienced thru-hiking and backpacking in the snow over the years.

Disclaimer: Over the years, I’ve purchased gear from all the companies in this guide as well as have been given gear by some of the companies to test. I was under no obligation to write a review but wrote this because it’s going to be a high snow year for many PCT and CDT hikers and I wanted to share it with others because I was too much of an idiot to look this stuff up myself when I did my thru’s.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2017/05/03/tips-to-keeping-feet-happy-in-the-snow/feed/4Great Divide Trail Top Tenshttp://www.eathomas.com/2017/04/26/great-divide-trail-top-tens/
http://www.eathomas.com/2017/04/26/great-divide-trail-top-tens/#respondWed, 26 Apr 2017 14:33:02 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4429Nothing tells truth like humor. Last August and September, Naomi “The Punisher” and I hiked the Great Divide Trail through the Canadian Rockies. While I never blogged about it, now is the time. I’m gonna save you a lot of reading and let this Top Ten List cut to the meat of a hike that […]

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2017/04/26/great-divide-trail-top-tens/feed/0Outdoor Retailer 2017: Best of Thru-hiker and Ultralight Gearhttp://www.eathomas.com/2017/01/17/outdoor-retailer-2017-best-thru-hiker-ultralight-gear/
http://www.eathomas.com/2017/01/17/outdoor-retailer-2017-best-thru-hiker-ultralight-gear/#respondTue, 17 Jan 2017 15:01:29 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4395 This year, I was one of very few ultralight or long distance hikers reporting on emerging gear at the Outdoor Retailer Winter 2017 show. Winter OR is always a smaller show than Summer OR, but I didn’t see many of the old faces, like Will Rietveld, who usually cover new and emerging technology […]

I attended Outdoor Retailer as part of the staff at the Wirecutter Outdoors, my new job. They were kind enough to let me continue to write my annual OR write-up for thru-hikers and ultralighters on my blog while I go into more detail on gear findings for their site.

This year, I was one of very few ultralight or long distance hikers reporting on emerging gear at the Outdoor Retailer Winter 2017 show. Winter OR is always a smaller show than Summer OR, but I didn’t see many of the old faces, like Will Rietveld, who usually cover new and emerging technology and design. OR is the world’s largest trade show in the gear industry bringing 40,000 people (in summer) to take over Salt Lake City and hand the Utahns an estimated $45 million annually in direct sales. As the recreation companies debut their 2018 models—vying to be seen as the most creative, innovative, inventive, and stylish—I sorted 11.8 acres of gear booths to find free food and beverage and the few items relevant to minimalist backpackers. Here’s what I found on my quest for gear and sustenance:

Shroomer and Allgood played in the new All Foams

Eva All Foam Snow Shoes by Crescent Moon

If I saw anything at the Show that could totally revolutionize the long distance hiker’s life, the Eva All Foam Snow Shoes by Crescent Moon were them. I’m thinking NeoAir in 2008 kind of change. Super easy-to-use bindings, lightweight foam construction, no moving parts to break and fix in the middle of nowhere, and equal weight distribution across the shoe make these bad boys the most anticipated gear item at the show. The Evas should work well for non-technical uses (most thru-hikes in spring would be ok here) and they look light enough that it’ll ride as well on top of your pack as you hitch out of town as it will as you go up over Muir Pass.

Lugs on the Eva All Foam snowshoe. Shroomer comments that while it is not aggressive enough for anything technical, they will be great for playing and some less scary thru-hiking situations

Unlike traditional snowshoes, weight is balanced across the entire Eva All Foam shoe, reducing “swing weight.” The theory is that the lightweight binding system reduces the inertia associated with the weight of the binding. Unlike many snowshoe bindings, as you’re walking in the Eva, you’re not going to trip from catching a loose or moving part like a pre-schooler stepping on his untied shoelace.

The light and flexible Velcro binding system spares snowshoers from the dreaded pinch points and that hard strap that digs into the top of your foot found on most snowshoes.Specifically, I’m thinking of a pair that was worn by a good friend of mine through the San Juans on the CDT and left its unnamed user with sharp pain and tendentious in his big toes’ metatarsals.

Shroomer trying out the All Foam snowshoes

The combination of the distributed weight and binding system on the Eva All Foam make the shoe feel like a natural extension of your body. My good friends Allgood and Shroomer tried the Eva snowshoes on and were like kids on their first snow play day: Snowshoeing feels more like going for a normal walk than a duck waddle in some other animal’s feet.

The new updated Lone Peak 3.0 on the left vs. the new Lone peak 3.5 on the right

Updated Altras

If there is one question I get after Outdoor Retailer, it is: “what’s the new design on Altras?” This year is freakin’ AMAZING for Altra as they are planning to launch what could replace the Lone Peaks as the most popular thru-hiking shoe. There are also some serious updates on the popular Lone Peak and Olympus models that are going to make a lot of my friends happy.

The Lone Peak 3.5s (women’s colors)

Updated Lone Peak 3.5s

The 3.5s have some pretty sweet updates to the Lone Peak 3.0s. I loved the improved durability on the 3.0s and wore them on the Low 2 High Route last October, but some of my hiking partners have said they feel narrow compared to the Lone Peak 2.5s. I asked Altra about it, and it turns out the 3.0s are just as wide as ever, but different fabric reinforcement (done to increase durability) is giving it that feeling. If you were skeptical about the 3.0s, worry not. Here is what the 3.5s have to offer:

-Less TPU paneling around the middle of the shoe means less constriction. The 3.0s went crazy on trying to reinforce a known failure point. The 3.5s are taking a lesson rom that design, and the TPU has been strategically placed around the main area that people were feeling constricted on the 3.0s. Now it should ride more like the toebox on the older models, but still have the durability in that area seen on the 3.0s.

-Reinforced stitching in the bunion window (the point where the big toe joint and pinky toe pop out—you know, where Altras always get holes after 700 miles). This should increase durability while feeling less constricting than the TPU reinforcement in the LP 3.0s.

The four point gaiter trap on the men’s Lone Peak 3.5

-The world’s first four point gaiter hook to prevent pine needles from finding their way into your shoes from the sides. (They’re really minimal, but you can always chop them off if you’re very concerned about weight)

-A balance between the stickiness of the Duramax soles and the older models’ durability. It’s a new updated compound with the best outsole yet. Brian Beckstead, one of Altra’s founders, told me that the Lone Peak has gone between being super sticky or super durable. Before, choosing where to go on the durability-stickiness spectrum has been tricky. (Long time Altra fan thru-hikers know right away which models lean towards one part of the spectrum vs. the other). The new sticky rubber in the 3.5s should be the best of both worlds.

Super traction (this photo actually on the King, a new mud-specific model that I’m not discussing in this write-up because I’m tired and am not completely convinced their use is for thru-hiking)

-Improved traction: The design on the bottom of the shoe has directional cants that work for gripping uphill and backward cants for downhill. The metatarsal area in particular has stronger canted lugs, cuz, you know, that’s where you’re supposed to be striking in a zero drop shoe. These look far more aggressive than any of the early models of Altra and should fight the ball-bearing effect hikers have complained about in the past.

-6 drain holes when there were none before. Thru-hikers have for several decades preferred mesh to waterproof shoes. This new feature will keep water out even more.

-Seamless no-tongue stitching: This is a little change that makes a big difference. I’ve never had a thru-hiking shoe with no tongue stitching before, but after feeling the new LP 3.5, I don’t want to go back. Stitching rubs slightly on the top of your foot, abrading your sock and creating an extra chaffing point with wet socks (I can show you some scars from my first AT hike…).

The new women’s Olympus 3.0

Improved Altra Olympus

The Altra Olympus are my favorite hiking shoe right now and there are even more improvements coming in. With the extra cushioning, the Olympus have always been well-suited for people just starting a thru-hike—especially if they’ve had to spend all winter working instead of training as much as they’d like. The Olympus is also great for when you have especially heavy loads to carry or if you are new to zero drop shoes. I’ve used the Olympus extensively, most notably on the Great Divide Trail. The new model will have more rubber and less Eva cutout, but the same amount of cushioning.

The Timp is the newest trail hiking model

One Shoe To Rule All Thru-hikers: The Timpanogos

If you’re like me, you have a hard time deciding on which situation is best suited for a Lone Peak and when the Olympus is the way to go. Altra has the answer: a new trail shoe. The Timpanogos is meant to take the best of Altra’s trail models and balance them out. Named after this mountain that kicked my butt on the Wasatch Traverse, the Timp offers hikers these features:

-Lighter than the Olympus, more cushioning than the Lone Peak

-Traction of the Superior (Altra’s lightest trail shoe) with the cushioning more like the Olympus at the weight of the Lone Peak

The men and women’s Timp models

-Fit of the Torin

Using the flash on my phone, I captured the reflective mesh on the new Timp

-Abrasion resistant mesh around the whole shoe to increase durability over the Lone Peak or Olympus. It’s also shiny and reflective, which is great for road runners, but I think may be weird or annoying for night hikers.

I’m most stoked that the outsole is like the Superior with similar rubber and design, but with more cushion than the Lone Peak. I LOVE the Superior’s aggressive outsole, but there isn’t enough cushion in them to put in 30 mile days, especially day in day out. Ever since the Superior 2.0 was released, I’ve been dreaming of a Lone Peak that had the Superior’s outsole. The Timp should be it.

Brian Beckstead tells me that the Timp takes the best features of all their top selling shoes and wraps them in one. So now it’s time for thru-hikers to make some serious decisions: In 2017, are you going Lone Peak, Olympus, or Timpanogos. Honestly, they all look so good, I don’t know which one I’m going to choose.

It’s a portable, no-mess pocket luxury—a taste of home on the fly. As a no-time-to-stop-for-a-break thru-hiker and a sometimes traveling laptop warrior, one packet has 200 calories plus caffeine and does the same job as my instant Starbucks Via and two GU packets in one (minus all the carbs and sugars). It has MCT (medium chain triglyercides) from coconut oil and grass-fed ghee, is available in multiple flavors, and also has a casein and lactose free option if that’s your jam. At $1.99 per packet, Know Brainer is one product new to Outdoor Retailer that I can actually afford.

KnowBrainer Thinker’s Instant creamer+coffee is available in 3 flavors, including a lactose/casein free version

Advocates of bulletproof coffee and ketogenic diets—including Know Brainer—claim that by not loading up on carbs and sugars first thing in the morning, fat+coffee drinkers are rewarded with long term, sustained energy. Dr. Brenda Braaten, thru-hiker nutritionist and trail angel extraordinaire, agrees eating lots of sugar right as you roll out of camp hurts endurance over the course of the day (although I doubt she’s stoked on the ketogenic diet). Ketogenic cheerleaders argue fat makes you feel full without eating massive quantities (Dr. Braaten would agree). Know Brainer’s General Manager Greg Leidrich (who co-founded along with his wife Chari, who also founded 2 Moms in the Raw) said he personally felt like Know Brainer helped curb his carb addiction. That morning, Greg had consumed nothing but an 8 oz cup of Know Brainer and still had plenty of energy at noon. Still, Gizmodo calls Bulletproof Coffee a “hot buttered hype” and questions some of the nutritional studies behind Know Brainer’s inspiration. US News and World Report is skeptical, too.

The reason I’d buy Know Brainer is its great taste, easy-clean up, it is pre-mixed, and that it creates less trash than a lot of competing products. Winter 2017 was Know Brainer’s first debut at Outdoor Retailer, but something tells me that it could end becoming a familiar face at the Show and also on the trail.

Rhone is positioning itself to be the Lululemon For Men with a market aimed at tech-bros trying to one-up each other on early adoption (and their workout). The product they’ve got is pretty cool: gold and silver nanotech treated athletic fabric. Silver has long been used as an anti-stink agent in clothes but has some environmental and functional issues: silver washes out into our sewer systems making the treatment less effective in as soon as 30 washes. Rhone makes bold claims about what gold + silver can do better than just silver: quicker drying, doesn’t wash out as quickly, keeps sun rays off your skin better, color and fabric last longer due to reduced sun damage, quicker drying, and of course reduced stink as its very hard for odor-causing bacteria to replicate on silver and cold. The same tech has been used in agriculture, medical, and other markets that have more money than the Outdoor Industry. Surprisingly, you don’t need a Silicon Valley salary to afford this sport clothing either: gold-infused nanotech clothing’s prices are pretty comparable to everything else in the mainstream outdoor market.

In 2017, the Mountaineers release an uber detailed PCT guide for section hikers.

I didn’t actually see this at the Show, but after perusing what other news sources are reporting from OR, this is the only thing the “mainstream outdoor media” is writing about that I could even potentially see thru-hikers being stoked about (besides the Crescent Moon All Foam snowshoes.)

A camp table seems like a luxury item incompatible with ultralight hiking…until now

This 2.3 oz table holds 10 pounds, folds into a water bottle pocket, and keeps your stuff on the ground. Now don’t get me wrong—I’m usually all about being as minimalist as possible and just throwing my gear on the ground. But after spending a few very wet nights in super muddy and horse poop-covered camps on the Great Divide Trail with a poop-adverse hiking partner, maybe there’s something to be said for not setting your food down right in a s%!* bog.

Core Third Ultralight Solar Panels

Designed specifically for backpackers, Core Third solar panels are cheaper and weigh significantly less than the standard Goal Zero solar panels most thru-hikers are using right now. Core Third panels are made of Hypalon, the same fabric used in white water rafting boats or Hazmat suits.

Hikers can charge phones directly from the Core Third solar panel or plug in an ultralight lithium battery and then charge their phones at night. The lithium battery that works with their solar panels doesn’t have the insulation of other batteries, reducing the weight by about 2 oz compared to the competitors. Core Third’s line up includes a 10 W/2 Amp panel compared to Goal Zero’s 7 W/1 Amp panel.

The two panel 10 W version of the Core Third ultralight solar panel

What struck me as the most intriguing thing about these panels wasn’t just the durability, weight, or the increased ampage (most of these things end up running at half of what they are rated for anyway): it was the price. Because their market is set up for direct sales and they have only been around 9 months (making this their first OR show), their 7 W panel is $79 and 10W is $99. They already know about thru-hikers and the many uses we will have for solar panels. Core Third is sponsoring the Warrior Hike and their Christine Walters, their COO, told me that that the panels in their support vehicle’s window charge faster than the USB on the car. I expect to see a lot more of these Core Third panels on the PCT this year and that Goal Zero will need to step up their game.

Allgood and I rocking out on the ice in the new Kahtoolas

Ice Traction Competition

Last year, I reported on the Vibram’s new sticky boot rubber that allows you to walk on ice. This year, Michelin released a competing product and had a giant Michelin Man walking the show to advertise it. They’re pairing with Columbia to roll the new tech is out. Trauma tells me these rubbers that are infused with glass for superior ice traction have been on the market for five years or so. As I reported last year, Vibram has an exclusive contract with Timberland up through 2017. Soon, we’re hoping for that kind of rubber on some more long distance hiker centric trail runners.

New Flavors of Clif Shot Bloks

Clif Shot Bloks have long been a thru-hiker favorite luxury food: easy to chew, quick infusions of energy with electrolytes. This year, Clif Shot Blok is offering three new flavors. Salted watermelon has double the salt of a normal Clif Blok. Ginger was good but IMHO could’ve been more gingery. I was stoked about a Spearmint flavor (it seems so obvious!!

People love mint gum. Why no mint energy block before?) but the flavor was disappointingly subtle: it wasn’t going to double as a backcountry breath refresher. I love Clif Bloks and the theory behind all these flavor choices, but I have a feeling at least two of them are going to be available at your local Grocery Outlet soon.

Redesigned Luna Sandals

Lunas sandals have long been a thru-hiker favorite for a durable, lightweight, stays on your foot, aggressive hiking sandal and camp and fording shoe. Their new version of the Monos have a redesigned strap and buckle system that reduce slippage compared to their old Mono. Like the old ones, they are still made in Seattle of Massachusetts-made ingredients and they won the Made in the USA Gear Award from the Outdoor Industry Association this year.

Crown Trails Headwear became the hiker headquarters booth at OR this year.

This brand new company has become the official hat company of the CDT, PCT, AT, PNT, and Ice Age Trail—and are looking for more. They are the only hat company that not only has official permission to use the trail logos, but also gives back 8% on all sales to the trail organizations. It was started by hatmaker Bob Wilson, who lives in Silver City, NM—an important designated CDT Gateway Community. He wanted to use his business as a way to raise money for the trail work of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. The hats are stylish and were a success, so Crown Trail Headwears was founded as an offshoot of his old hat business with a goal of giving back.

Kuju Coffee Pocket Pourovers were pretty tasty

A Great Year for Trail Ready Coffee

Multiple coffee companies are fighting back against Starbucks this year. Alpine Start, founded by a climber bro, offers Via-like freeze-dried coffee crystals at a slightly higher price. Kuju Coffee Pocket Pourovers started as a Kickstarter and has a minimalist pour over with less waste than a traditional coffee filter.

Treeline Coffee Roasters pourover jump started my Wednesday

Treeline Coffee Roasters out of Montana makes a similar product—except focuses more on environmental and social issues with expected price differences.

These new, simple

Pour man’s pourover

pourover set ups are your new best bet for trail-ready pourover: no extra gear, less waste than a filter, everything is self-contained and measured in a packaged, vacuuming keeps the coffee fresh compared to your ziplock of grounds.

It’s also pretty similar to a mainstream grocery store product I saw in Japan a few weeks ago. The fancy ones are so much tastier it isn’t even funny, but the Japanese product goes for less than half the price. I bought 18 cups for about $5 (but as I’ve been reminded—they are Japanese-sized cups).

Wrap Up

Wow! If you’ve made it this far, you must really love gear and food updates. While this Winter OR was even slower than usual, it felt highly productive. The free food and beverage scene was better than I’ve seen in a few years, whereas the schwag and discounted gear scene was not as advanced. The normal set up for OR includes some weekend days and is 4 days long. This year was only 3 days long and only on weekdays–which kept out riff raff and also got me home in time to enjoy my weekend….by writing up what I saw at OR.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2017/01/17/outdoor-retailer-2017-best-thru-hiker-ultralight-gear/feed/0Dealing with Post-Hike Depressionhttp://www.eathomas.com/2016/10/24/dealing-post-hike-depression/
http://www.eathomas.com/2016/10/24/dealing-post-hike-depression/#commentsMon, 24 Oct 2016 14:38:52 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4327At first, being home will be great after your long adventure. Endless food. Endless Netflix. No more foot/leg/back/what-have-you pain. Temperature control. Roof. Your family wants to hear about your hike and see photos. But after about 2-3 weeks, they’re over it. You’re over Netflix. And your thru-hike is still all you think about. You’ll be […]

Finishing a long trail is complete joy. Transitioning back to the real world is not.

At first, being home will be great after your long adventure. Endless food. Endless Netflix. No more foot/leg/back/what-have-you pain. Temperature control. Roof. Your family wants to hear about your hike and see photos. But after about 2-3 weeks, they’re over it. You’re over Netflix. And your thru-hike is still all you think about.

You’ll be homesick for a place that doesn’t have a roof.

You’ll be homesick for a home without a roof.

Post-hike depression is a real thing.

I’ve seen it happen to some of the happiest, kindest, most unlikely people in the world. It is documented in retired elite athletes, so it makes sense it would happen to long distance hikers, too. Yet, I’ve also heard deniers (even very prominent hikers) say, “Get over yourself. There are people in the world with life much worse. You are an ungrateful first-worlder sad because your trip is over.” Like any form of mental illness, “Depression is in your head” or “others have it worse” are among the least helpful things you can say.

Hard exercise triggers the release of endorphin, a chemical that triggers good vibes.

A major chemical change is going on in your body and mind

Post-hike depression is brought about at least partially by a major chemical change going on in your body and mind. Exercise and being outdoors are great for our bodies and minds. To suddenly no longer have that can be a big hit.

Face it: Thru-hiking is your community and identity.

Post hike depression isn’t just biological

When you return to the real world, you lose your community and your identity—two elements correlated to happiness.

I don’t mean to suggest that hikers necessarily suffer from major depressive disorder, which is a diagnosed condition which requires psychiatric treatment. If you at all believe what you are experiencing is major depressive disorder and/or it existed before your hike, please seek medical attention.

Thru-hiking gives us the power to make our own decisions. Photo by Naomi Hudetz

For many thru-hikers, after months of living in a world where you’ve had a lot of control over every detail of your life (on a thru-hike), you’re thrust into a bad world full of bad people and bad things. It may seem like people who live in the “real world” have never known another lifestyle and thus don’t get how different the world can be. On a thru-hike, life is simple and, to paraphrase Thoreau, that simplicity is the key to happiness. Back here in the real world, things are complicated. The desire to give up all the advances of society to go back to a “better world” is strong. You are likely to be hit with what one article on depression calls a sense of “powerlessness with an absence of hope.”

Ironically, sometimes we feel the most lost and alone when we aren’t on trail. Photo by Kate Hoch.

While many of those living with depression are often doing everything they can to feel better (and actively hate it when folks suggest some of the things below), my experience (and totally non-medical perspective) suggests that simulating the things that you loved the most on trail that are lost in the real world can be a very helpful tonic.

The thoughts below are all about reminding yourself that things can get better.

Find a support group, preferably other hikers

While it’s impossible for others to know exactly what you’re going through or why, other hikers are bound to realize that post-hike depression sucks a lot more than your civilization friends will. One of my favorite parts of the thru-hiking is the community—a place where people from all walks of lives come together, irrespective of their socioeconomic class or background. On a thru-hike, we have a shared self-imposed struggle that brings us closer. Real society, for all of its comforts, is lacking that.

A hiker get together at Allgood’s house.

Depending on where you live, there may be other long distance hikers near you. Get together in person and talk trail. You’ll feel a little bit like your identity and community are being restored by being back with your tribe (plus—when you inevitability gain back all the weight you lost hiking, they’ll remind you it’s a normal part of a hikers’ life and nothing to be ashamed about). Reconnecting with actual humans is bound to make you feel better than sitting in front of a computer.

Do activities that are mentally challenging—preferably with others

Some hikers have this box checked already: If you were lucky enough to have a job lined up right after the trail, keeping busy can save you from the post-hike rumination that reminds you how much the “real world” sucks compares to thru-hiking. For some, this means treating “looking for a job” like it is your job. For others, this can mean hitting the next hike planning with a vengeance. Set a goal and get to it.

Even in January, it’s possible to get out and hike. Photo by Tom Gathman.

Show Your Gratitude

Nita and Kathy, two generous, kind, good souls and trail angels on the CDT.

Numerous studies show (here, here, and here) that being thankful and showing gratitude can really make you happier. As a thru-hiker, you have a lot to be thankful for: public lands, the fact that trails exist at all, and for amazing trail angels.

I always put together thank you cards for those who helped me on my hike (side note: this can be pretty time consuming and can fall under the “giving yourself a challenging mental task” noted above). If you’re not already a member of the trail organization associated with whatever hike you did, becoming a member can be a great way to thank them for all the trail work and maintenance.

Barney “Scout” Mann and Meadow Ed are trail angels and recipients of the Martin D. Papendick Award. Photo by either Miguel Virgo Aguilar or Nabor J

In addition to sending trail angels thank you letters and cards (they’re usually thrilled to hear you made your goal), I also like to send them a check or Paypal. I get it: when you’re thru-hiking, the temptation to not leave as much for trail angels as you’d like is strong. You legitimately may not be sure you have enough cash to make it to Katahdin/Canada/Mexico. But once you have a job again or are back at home and still have a few bucks to your name, send the trail angel some cash and you’ll feel some of that guilt go away. I’ve sent some post-hike cash to trail angels and it’s filled some post-hike guilt.

Give Back

Peter “Czech” Sustr teaches a class on fording at the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West Ruck in Colorado.

Another way to show your gratitude is to give back to the future generation of hikers. Try to meet with prospective hikers in person, give them gear shakedowns, and share your trail experience with them. Believe me—they’ll be a lot more interested in hearing more about your hike than your friends and family.

Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva gives David a pack shake down to help lighten the load he carries on backpacking trips.

Talking trail and helping others is a great way to restore your identity and give thanks for all that you have learned on your journey. It’s also a great way to meet other hikers—seasoned and yet to head on their journey.

Realize the Journey Isn’t Over

Sure, you spent 4-6 months with a single goal: getting to Katahdin or Canada or Mexico or wherever. And suddenly, your goal—your life’s meaning—is gone.

Sometimes, the goals you set for yourself will be just to walk across town. But it’s these accomplishments–as much as your thru-hike–that remind yourself you are strong.

But you also proved you can complete whatever challenge you set for yourself! Sure, you won’t be able to go back to the pure bliss of PCT 2016. But you can take that “can do” attitude and set a new goal (say, CDT 2017?). There’s a reason why thru-hiking has such a high recidivism rate.

An essential aspect of “getting over” post thru-hike depression is setting new goals. Whether that goal is going back to school or saving up for your next thru, having a dream to keep yourself motivated is important. As my friend and super-hiker Bobcat quotes his grandma as saying, “Having something to look forward to” is one of the pillars to happiness.

Let your hike change you for the better

For what it’s worth, most thru-hikers I talk to say that the post-hike depression they experienced was worse after their first very long hike. The more hikes someone has under their belt, the shorter and less pronounced post-hike depression becomes—so much so, that some hikers even forget it exists.

When the joy of the trail can travel with you wherever you go in life, then you have found the secret to happiness.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard was from Stacey Matthews, a repeat thru-hiker and beautiful person inside and out. She told me the true lesson of a thru-hike is to take the happiness and beauty that the trail brings you and bring it to your non-trail world. You’re still on trail, just taking 180 zero days.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or trained counselor or therapist. Seek professional medical help.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2016/10/24/dealing-post-hike-depression/feed/2The 12 Stereotypical Hikers You’ll Meet On the Trailhttp://www.eathomas.com/2016/07/05/12-eccentric-hikers-youll-meet-trail/
http://www.eathomas.com/2016/07/05/12-eccentric-hikers-youll-meet-trail/#commentsTue, 05 Jul 2016 16:00:02 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4311 You know these hikers. You speed up or slow down to get away from them. They never seem to go away. Inspired by this hilarious story from Runner’s World, I bring you 12 odd long distance hiking types. FKT He’s running at 4 miles per hour, taking no breaks, and traveling light and fast. […]

You know these hikers. You speed up or slow down to get away from them. They never seem to go away.

Inspired by this hilarious story from Runner’s World, I bring you 12 odd long distance hiking types.

The FKT hiker may look like he’s out to break a record, but chances are when you finally catch up, he’ll be found taking a nap.

FKT

He’s running at 4 miles per hour, taking no breaks, and traveling light and fast. You may think the FKT is out to break a record, but chances are he is just trying to impress a potential trail suitor (see Pink Blazer) and will be lounging in each trail town for a few days, hanging with the Party Animal (see below).

Pink Blazer

He may have told the folks back home that he is hiking for the adventure, but he’s really looking for some trail tail. What better time to connect with others than when you’re at your fittest, creating shared memories as you travel in a beautiful place?

Hiking with the Sponsored hiker isn’t all bad. He can make it rain. In Chocolate.

Sponsored

This hiker knows every company in the industry and loves telling you how he’s sponsored. The quality of the gear he’s using doesn’t matter so much as letting everyone on trail know that he got it for free.

Party Animal

It’s this 20-somethings first time on her own and she’s going to drink like there’s no tomorrow and hike like there’s no daylight left. These work hard-play-hard hikers are out to prove there’s no time to thru like your 20s. Unless, this person happens to be in her 60s.

This instrument was really heavy to pack out.

The Artist/Musician

This hiker lives for breaktime in nature. He brings a guitar and sings or spends the afternoon watercoloring. While the Artist/Musician may not be the first to finish, he has some beautiful mementos to share when he is done, and builds lovely goodwill and warm-fuzzy feelings among the hiking community.

Gearhead

A Backpacking Light regular, she knows the weights of all her gear down to the tenth of an ounce (and can even convert that number into grams…although, so can High on the Mountain).

Om.

Yogi

Hiking is all about being in nature. And getting awesome photos for Instagram included with a John Muir quote.

Blogger

He’s got a bunch of electronics and knows how to use them. He’ll stay up past midnight in town uploading photos. The blogger may be hiking in the wilderness, but somehow, that Instagram account gets updated several times a day. Often accompanied with Oversharing and Too Much Information, as well as a bunch of creepy desktop followers.

Fancy here is shown in a hat by Maison Michel, sunglasses by Prada, scarf by Burberry, sundress by Oscar de la Renta, shoes by Altra.

Mr. and Ms. Fashionable

Just because she’s living in the dirt for a few weeks doesn’t mean that she can’t wear Prada. Mr. and Ms. Fashionable were a frequent sighting last summer on the John Muir Trail, where their favorite hiking costume was Lululemon yoga pants.

High on the Mountain

It may not yet be legal on federal land, but this thruhiker is high on hiking. She doesn’t need snowshoes in early spring because she’s floating on the snow.

You’ll never get a Triple Crown if you yellowblaze your way across the state.

Yellowblazer

She loves the hikertrash culture, but finds the whole walking aspect of long distance hiking to be hard. This trail skipper sails his way into lies about the distance and speed he’s hiked, yet somehow manages to smell as bad as if he has just thru-ed.

The Expert

How can you tell if a long distance hiker has thru-hiked another trail? Don’t worry. He’ll tell you. Without you having to ask first, this guy will tell you every trail he’s hiked and how long it took him. Chances are, he’ll tell you a lot about the AT.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2016/07/05/12-eccentric-hikers-youll-meet-trail/feed/3Rim to Rim to Rim in a Day Nutrition and Hydrationhttp://www.eathomas.com/2016/05/28/rim-rim-rim-day-nutrition-hydration/
http://www.eathomas.com/2016/05/28/rim-rim-rim-day-nutrition-hydration/#commentsSat, 28 May 2016 21:37:10 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4308 Nutrition and hydration were key to making Rim to Rim to Rim possible. When I did R2R2R in 2013, I never thought it would be impossible, but did not finish strong. This year, I knew hydration and nutrition would make the difference and was very strategic about it. A few days before I left, […]

The food I brought with me on Rim to Rim to Rim in a day. I didn’t end up eating everything here and will discuss what worked for me and what didn’t work during the actual hike.

Nutrition and hydration were key to making Rim to Rim to Rim possible. When I did R2R2R in 2013, I never thought it would be impossible, but did not finish strong. This year, I knew hydration and nutrition would make the difference and was very strategic about it. A few days before I left, I went to the grocery store and went crazy getting the foods that I thought would help me the most. And it was totally. Worth. It. I finished R2R2R this year feeling strong, fast, and like I had done (almost) everything right.

In the past three years, I’ve learned a lot about keeping myself hydrated and maintaining a salt balance. Indeed, I overheard rangers talking to dayhikers at each of the water stations, warning them that there is more to hydration than water. The rangers suggest eating salty snacks along with the water to avoid hyponatremia—a condition where you actually drink too much water when doing an endurance activity. This time, I used salt tabs, which are empty pill cases filled with salt, to make sure that I was getting a lot. Salt tabs are an old ultra marathoners’ trick and I’ve used them on some bigger dayhikes on hot, sunny days. I knew they would serve me well on R2R2R.

For me, the secret of nutrition on R2R2R was making sure I got enough calories. The body can usually absorb up to 300 calories per hour during exercise, but as a hiker, I usually only eat every 2 hours. On R2R2R, I decided to attempt eating ever 1 hour.

The problem is that I have a hard time choking down food, especially if it is hot and I am exerting myself. Last time I hiked, I brought bars and usual hiker fare food.

This time, I knew I needed to drink my calories. I always have thirst, but rarely have an appetite on a dayhike.

Although it’s pricey, I bought a large container of Hammer Perpetuem and Navitas Coconut Water Powder and mixed them together to create a Super Powder. My friend Leo who I hiked R2R2R with and is also a cyclist said that Perpetuem had been a life saver for him on a 17,000 foot gain endurance race.

On R2R2R, I drank a serving of Perpetuem+ Coconut Water Powder+Water every hour. The Super Powder made up about half my calories on the R2R2R. I never felt like I bonked or had run out of energy. Although Perpetuem and Navitas Coconut Water have no caffeine (or at least the flavor I got has no caffeine), I didn’t realize it until after I got home and checked the ingredients. The Super Powder gave me a boost that I would have expected from caffeine.

I think the Navitas Coconut Water made a big difference in boosting the Perpetuem to help with electrolyte balance. Leo used just the Perpetuem and afterwards said he wished he had had a little something extra, especially between Cottonwood Camp and Phantom Ranch on the return, a section that is hot and exposed.

Another lifesaver for me on R2R2R was moist instant foods that I would rarely consider bringing on a thru-hike. I loved having the Munk Pack instant oatmeal squeezes. I could down in 30 seconds and it didn’t require any chewing and saliva left in my mouth. The Clif Shots worked the same way—quick calorie boosts that didn’t require chewing. I also wanted some bland, easy to digest “real food”—stuff that backpacker would never usually carry. For me, that meant boiled eggs and new potatoes that I covered in salt. They were so moist and easy to digest. The ProBar Bolts and Natural High freeze dried banana served a similar function. They’re so easy to stuff in my face, down some water, chew, and swallow, that I would be able to roll into a water stop, eat an entire pack of ProBar Bolts or the entire freeze dried bananas, and chug some water in just a few minutes.

It’s funny, but when I’m pushing hard, I go for sentimental foods. The only solid food I ate the whole trip was some Blue Diamond Almonds and Navitas Mulberries. Blue Diamond is based in the town I grew up, Sacramento, and I ate a ton of them as a kid. Before my boyfriend and I were dating, he sent me dried mulberries. I had never ever seen dried mulberries before and they were such a luxury to have a such a superfood. Ever since, mulberries have had a special spot in my heart, and I knew I wanted them on this trip.

I didn’t end up eating the Boom Chicka Puff or the Pop Chips. They just seemed like they required too much chewing but to be quite honest, I couldn’t be bothered to open the bags. One of few things I wish I had done differently is to repackage those chips into a ziplock bag. I was that lazy—saving every bit of energy for pushing hard and fast. I also didn’t eat my Epic Bison Cranberry bar while I was hiking. I had specifically purchased it as a luxury item to help with the big R2R2R hike—perhaps as motivation to get to the next checkpoint. While I was hiking, the idea of eating a meat product just didn’t seem like something my stomach could handle. But as soon as I finished, I downed it in what seemed like one bite. I hoped that it would help me rebuild muscles by eating it within the golden hour.

In total, I drank 14.5 L during my hike. I drank 1.5 L before I started and 1.5 L when I finished. Most of the liquid was as the Perpetuem. At each water station, I downed at least 1 L on the spot to “camel up.” Then, I left each water station with 2 L of water.

The nutrition and hydration for the R2R2R is a little different than I would have expected, but I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to the strategy I need to be my best.

]]>http://www.eathomas.com/2016/05/28/rim-rim-rim-day-nutrition-hydration/feed/3Rim to Rim to Rim Gear Listhttp://www.eathomas.com/2016/05/23/rim-rim-rim-gear-list/
http://www.eathomas.com/2016/05/23/rim-rim-rim-gear-list/#respondMon, 23 May 2016 15:16:20 +0000http://www.eathomas.com/?p=4301Tomorrow, I head out to hike the grandaddy of all Grand Canyon hikes—Rim to Rim to Rim in a Day. Depending on what source you look at (and what route you take) the hike can be up to 48 miles and 11,000 feet of gain. Exposure, dehydration, hyponatremia happen often, which is one reason why […]

Tomorrow, I head out to hike the grandaddy of all Grand Canyon hikes—Rim to Rim to Rim in a Day. Depending on what source you look at (and what route you take) the hike can be up to 48 miles and 11,000 feet of gain. Exposure, dehydration, hyponatremia happen often, which is one reason why the Grand Canyon has more deaths annually than any other national park.

Having hiked Rim to Rim to Rim once before, I knew there were some things I wanted to change about my choices in gear that I carried. With that knowledge and experience in mind, here is the gear that I took.

[table id=19 /]

A few things that I did differently this time was to carry an emergency bivy. A friend of mine who ran the R2R2R a few weeks ago bonked and wished he had carried one, especially with bad weather. You never know when you’re going to bonk and even the most prepared can have bad things happen to them, so I was happy to bring that.

The time, I am also bringing Suunto Core watch to track my elevation gain and progress up the canyon.

I also opted to take a daypack this time instead of a bigger pack.

Note: now that I have finished the hike, there are a few things I would change. First, I would be sure to put NEW batteries in my headlamp before going. Even with a full moon, it was too dark. I would also opt to not take my potty trowel–there are bathrooms everywhere (that being said, I suppose if I couldn’t hold it or got a case of diahhrea, the extra 0.4 oz isn’t too much to carry). I would also consider carrying a smaller pack as the 26 L daypack was too big for all my stuff. Many runners get away with small Camelbaks or even vests. That being said, the Type 2 fits me like a glove and is very comfortable, and maybe it is better to have a pack that feels good than one that is slightly smaller.